I think that Prince is always better live than on album...even Lovesexy. Tonight, I listened to Lovesexy first...which is great... but then I listened to Lovesexy Live in Nagoya and there is such an electricity and immediciacy to the songs that are not quite there in the album, that I am blown away by the difference. Who thinks that Prince's "Live" performances equal or are better than any/most of his studio performances? And which albums/performances?

First of all, wrong forum.

Second of all, the live versions of America & Anotherloverholeinyohead are better than the album versions.

His approach to songwriting, production, and performing, are so richly variant that there is really no right answer here.

Yes, he's great in concert and on LP.

Except for 2007's Planet Earth.

Wrong forum. Moving to Prince: Music & More forum

Live.

What is "better"?

They're 2 different animals.

He excels at both, and always has. A rare bird, this Prince of ours.

ALSO... he has always had the intention of "killing it" live. Live has got 2 be "better than the record", which is how he trained The Time, by that famous quote 2 Jimmy Jam.

Still... I like both sides, and they're both friends.

Live - depends on his band.

Studio - depends on his creativity.

I'd probably stick with his creati-.... Wait.

Well, he was better on tape up until around 1996. Then it switched. Much better live performances than any of the duds he released.

Cinnie said:

His approach to songwriting, production, and performing, are so richly variant that there is really no right answer here.

Yes, he's great in concert and on LP.

[img:$uid]http://www.myurbanhangout.com/images/smilies/agree.gif[/img:$uid]

Giovanni777 said:

What is "better"?

They're 2 different animals.

He excels at both, and always has. A rare bird, this Prince of ours.

ALSO... he has always had the intention of "killing it" live. Live has got 2 be "better than the record", which is how he trained The Time, by that famous quote 2 Jimmy Jam.

Still... I like both sides, and they're both friends.

what he said

IMO Live

As a general rule, I prefer studio versions in a track-by-track comparison. But a killer live show is always welcome.

There´s nothing better then a good Prince concert with all the tension, passion, vibe and crackling in the air

really a mixed bag for me...

I want to see Prince do a very stripped down band thing... maybe record a live album, of original tracks.... just guitar, drums and bass...

I feel like sometimes... both live and on record... there's more going on than there needs to be...

Spinlight said:

Live - depends on his band.

Studio - depends on his creativity.

I'd probably stick with his creati-.... Wait.

Well, he was better on tape up until around 1996. Then it switched. Much better live performances than any of the duds he released.

kinda.

Although, I'm sorry to say, but I think the "Prince is THE ultimate live performer" mantra is becoming as stale and trite as the "well at least it's better than what else is on the radio" one did before it.

LP is ok eg. Musicology, 1999..........

Live

Live - or - album ?

I prefer to listen to the albums, those are giving me most joy, I have (for instance) never heard a good live version of Kiss or When Doves Cry...

But being there seeing Prince playing live is just fantastic..... he is brilliant, I saw 3 shows in London 2007.. just wow. Prince is still fantastic on guitar.

But mostly I am listening to the released albums......... most often the WB, 1978-1995 ones.

Most of my live boots are collecting a lot of dust, incl. the official Live albums.

ONA... Live is very bad, and the Indigo Nights CD is a lot worse, yuck.

Overall live in concert and with the band he was with when the LP was released. For example, the recent Mountains and Anotherlover didn't do it for me, give me the Revolution.

Back in the day the LP challenged in one way and the live interpretation was like icing on the cake. You didnt know what he would do with a song, but you knew it would not exist live as previously constructed. Today, for me he's a live artist; the guitar work is getting into the all time great stratosphere and i love watching him just play.

dreamshaman32 said:

Back in the day the LP challenged in one way and the live interpretation was like icing on the cake. You didnt know what he would do with a song, but you knew it would not exist live as previously constructed. Today, for me he's a live artist; the guitar work is getting into the all time great stratosphere and i love watching him just play.

Well put and I agree.